Sunday, January 20, 2013

Chronic Pelvic Pain

Pain in the lower abdomen or pelvis that lasts for more than six months is often referred to as Chronic Pelvic Pain or CPP. For many women, the pain comes and goes and may be associated with their menstrual cycles. For others, the pain is constant and it may interfere with normal daily living – disrupting relationships with family and friends, limiting physical and/or sexual activity and their ability to meet everyday responsibilities.
The causes of chronic pelvic pain are often times baffling. Some conditions that may be responsible for CPP include:Endometriosis – abnormal growth of the endometrial tissue, which lines the uterus, in other parts of the body (i.e., fallopian tubes, ovaries, other organs in the abdomen)Uterine fibroids – non-cancerous growths in the uterusScar tissue – the result of previous abdominal surgeryPelvic Inflammatory Disease – inflammation or infection of the female pelvic organs (i.e., uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries) due to the presence of bacteriaBowel or Urinary Tract Diseases – such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome and urinary tract infectionsEmotional – often experienced by women who are or have been sexually or physically abused or assaulted
Diagnosing the cause of CPP is often done by process of elimination. Sometimes, no cause for the pain is found and treatment may be limited to pain management.***A number of published case studies have documented the positive effects that chiropractic adjustments can have on women who experience CPP. One such study showed a 70% reduction in symptoms after only six weeks of care. Other research points to lower sacral nerve root impairment being implicated in CPP; chiropractic care may relieve this impairment and, therefore, the pain.
Please let us know if you are experiencing any of the symptoms of CPP on your next visit so we can discuss your situation.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Many people who hear the term, "sciatica," think of a painful condition or ailment. Not so. Sciatica is actually only a symptom of a condition or ailment. Those who have experienced it describe it as pain that starts in the lower spine and radiates to the buttock and down into the back of the leg, from the thigh through the calf. The pain can range from mild to excruciating and may be accompanied by muscle weakness or numbness in the leg or a feeling of "pins and needles" in the toes or foot of the affected leg.
Most often, sciatica occurs when a nerve root in the lower (lumbar) spine is compressed, as a result of a herniated disc or other conditions that put pressure on the sciatic nerve, such as:Spinal Stenosis – a narrowing of the spinal canal that places pressure on nerves in the lumbar regionPiriformis syndrome – a tightness in the piriformis muscle, which runs directly above the sciatic nerve into both legs, that exerts pressure on the sciatic nerveSpondylolisthesis – a condition that often results from degenerative disc disease where one vertebra slips out of place, slightly forward over another vertebra, pinching the sciatic nerve at the place where it exits from the spinal cordTumors – can put pressure on the spinal cord and nerve endings, causing the pain associated with sciaticaTrauma – car accidents, slips, or falls that injure the roots of the sciatic nerve, can cause pain

So, once you have sciatica, how do you deal with it? Although some health care professionals may suggest cold/hot packs and bed rest initially, staying in bed won't really help your sciatica. In fact, inactivity could actually worsen the pain, so at least try to keep up with normal daily activities. Pain medications and over-the-counter drugs may offer limited pain relief, but often not without side effects, and they do nothing to relieve the cause of the pain.
Most who come to our practice respond well to chiropractic adjustments, a safe and natural approach to improving function and reducing nerve involvement. Chiropractic care addresses the underlying problem causing the pain. Our approach to sciatica attempts to restore the way your spine and nervous system work, which reduce nerve irritation, ignites your body's own ability to heal, and usually relieves the pain associated with sciatica.

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Your Waste Removal System

The body’s lymphatic system is connected to every other organ, yet few people pay much attention to it unless something goes terribly wrong with it – then it becomes a real cause for concern.
What is the lymphatic system and why is it so important? Just as the cardiovascular system carries oxygen and nutrients to every cell in the body through blood pumped from the heart, the lymphatic system, made up of your lymph vessels and nodes, tonsils, adenoids, appendix, spleen, and thymus gland, is the body's "rubbish collector" that filters out toxins, waste and other debris at the cellular level. If the flow of lymph fluid is blocked in any way, the fluid becomes thick and toxic.

One of the best ways to keep the lymph fluid moving properly through the body is to exercise. Physical movement helps the lymph system to keep from becoming “sluggish.” A sluggish lymphatic system may cause illness, pain and disease, including heart disease, sinusitis, viral/bacterial infections, fatigue, loss of energy, eczema, and even cancer.

In today’s world, many people have become sedentary. Because there is no lymphatic “pump,” like the heart, the lymphatic system relies on muscle contractions, the result of movement and exercise, to push the lymphatic fluid throughout the body. Any exercise that incorporates major muscle groups and deep breathing assists lymph flow.

Walking, jumping on a small trampoline (rebounder), running, swimming or any type of aerobic exercise helps contract muscles and increase lymph circulation.

Here’s an exercise that you can do almost anywhere to stimulate lymph flow in the chest and underarm area:

Stand in a relaxed position with your feet close together. Hold your arms out to the side, palms down, parallel to the floor. Rotate arms in small circles; forward 10 times, then backwards 10 times. Repeat, rotating in medium size circles and then again in large circles. Do this two to three times several times during the day.